I spent one day hunting a ton of monsters, and two days escaping the dungeon.
The exploration that ended yesterday was the longest one yet. It took a week.
I prepared plenty of food and water, but I used it all. And since I gave my potions to those adventurers I met along the way, I’ll have to buy more.
I collected a lot of monster materials, which led to a big payout, so I get to buy more than I need.
Also, that gold dust I gathered in the river wasn’t gold at all, unfortunately. It was a magic metal that alchemists can use to make magic equipment.
I worked so hard gathering it, but in the end, it was only worth five thousand yen. I heard it can also be collected on the fourteenth floor. I would’ve made more money if I just hunted monsters as I explored. Dammit it all.
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I’m heading to the weapons store in the shopping mall to check if my equipment needs maintaining. Apparently the greatsword of fortitude and magic mirror armor do, and I have to pay a considerable sum.
The owner asks what I think of the million yen accessory he added to the armor, and I tell him he’s an idiot and he shouldn’t just add stuff.
Does this old man just see me as a good source of money or a hobby investor?
After leaving the weapons store I head to the guild, where I see Takeshi Asano and Ruri Nijou, two members of Toufu’s party, putting equipment on a cart.
I raise my hand and say hello, and they do it too, looking happy.
Apparently these two will be married soon, and I see engagement rings on their left hands.
Toufu’s party returned from the dungeon yesterday, and today they’re servicing their equipment before having a party to celebrate tonight.
Being in a party sounds fun. Everyone’s excited, and it’s something I can’t experience as a solo adventurer unless someone just happens to invite me.
I really haven’t been with my friends ever since I quit, I haven’t told anyone about it, so it’s hard to contact me.
In any case, I’m planning to meet up with friends from my home town at the end of the year, so I really need to prepare myself. I hope to at least lose weight, but I don’t see any sign of that happening even though I work so hard, so I’ve pretty much given up on that.
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Eh? I can go too?
I said this before too, but wouldn’t you rather be with just your party?
Having the same people every time gets boring?
It’s not a problem because I’m planning to join the party?
…I’ll take you up on it then.
Takeshi invites me with a smile, and Ruri nods with a soft expression. It hasn’t really been decided that I’ll join, but I’m a little happy that they’re treating me as one of theirs.
They tell me the time and place of their wrap up party, and I see them off.
Husband and wife… They look happy.
I’m not jealous or anything, that’s just what I feel when I see them.
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When I get to the guild, I buy potions and mana potions, along with other stuff.
I used more than I thought in this last exploration, so I’m buying more this time. I feel like I’ll use even more stuff next time, so I should be ready.
When I’m done shopping and leave, I come across Master Azabu.
He starts twitching suspiciously for some reason, and he looks surprised when I bow and thank him.
I ask what’s the matter with him, and he tells me it’s just because I’m acting so differently compared to the impression I left last time.
Last time?
Did I do something?
I don’t remember… All I did was infuse my fist with magic energy. Hahaha.
What? Why are you so scared?
I stare at him, and for some reason, he fast walks away.
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The eleventh floor.
There are more seekers mining on the eleventh floor, probably because there are more seekers in general. Most are working hard mining, while others are working hard in a less wholesome way.
They’re all serious about it except for those I mentioned, but because these ones are up to no good in secluded areas, I can’t find a nice place to practice my magic.
Wherever I go, I see people hiding in the shadows, and I might even hit people with magic if I’m not careful.
If they left any sort of sign indicating that they’re doing it, I could just fire magic without worrying… I mean, I would just leave, but it’s awkward when I think there’s no one and then I see them.
I’m going to that party tonight, so I can’t spend too much time on this.
In the end, I don’t find a suitable place, and I’m giving up for today, but then I hear a scream.
I’m not too concerned, but when I slowly turn to where it came from, I see six half naked men and women being attacked by goblins and big ants.
I just think about how it sucks to be them, but then a woman sees me and asks for help.
I look around thinking this is a pain, but I’m the only one here.
I slowly approach them and save the seriously wounded guy covered in blood. The woman wailing for help is good enough to scream, so she’s fine.
I help the people that seem to be in danger one at a time, and they all survive.
I try to leave feeling happy with myself, but they call me again.
I tell them I’ve saved them already, but they want potions because the seriously wounded guy might die.
I feel like this happened before, and then I hear one of them let out a surprised voice.
A girl with relatively light wounds points at me, which annoys me.
I turn around to leave, but she says ‘wait potion guy’.
Who’s potion guy?
I look at her, and she starts rapid firing about how I saved her and took down monsters.
I remember. She was the one doing it last time too.
And the seriously wounded guy must be her boyfriend.
Don’t these people learn? Or did they think they wouldn’t get attacked if they were in a group?
Even putting aside the fact that they’re naked, they don’t appear to be proper seekers. There’s one sword among their weapons on the ground, but the other three are steel pipes.
Are these people serious about this? Well, they’re serious about something, but that’s no good.
They don’t even have enough weapons for everyone. Why are they here?
I ask the ones that can still move why they don’t have potions, and they say they didn’t want to waste money.
I see… Bye then.
I say and try to leave again, but someone holds my leg.
No no, you people do something about that. It’s your fault for doing it in a dungeon.
When I say this isn’t a love hotel, they say they’ve learned their lesson and cry for me to help.
The thought of cutting an arm to free my leg crosses my mind, but other seekers can see from the entrance to this floor.
I’m getting nowhere like this, so I give a potion each and run out of there.
I think from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to end up like that, and feel my heart grow heavy.
And I feel like I end up yelling that the dungeon isn’t a love hotel at that party.
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